The Proterozoic Biosphere: A Multidisciplinary Study PDF
Preview The Proterozoic Biosphere: A Multidisciplinary Study
THE PROTEROZOIC BIOSPHERE A Multidisciplinary Study Edited by J. WILLIAM SCHOPF AND CORNELIS KLEIN CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Published by the Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RP 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA 10 Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, Australia © Cambridge University Press 1992 First published 1992 Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The proterozoic biosphere: a multidisciplinary study /edited by J. William Schopf and Cornelis Klein. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-521-36615-1 1. Paleontology-Proterozoic. I. Schopf, J. William, 1941- II. Klein, Cornelis, 1937- QE724.5.P76 1992 56OM71-dc2O 91-15085 CIP ISBN 0-521-36615-1 hardback THIS MONOGRAPHIC WORK IS DEDICATED TO ROBERT M. GARRELS (1916-1988), COLLEAGUE, FRIEND, TEACHER. A contribution of the Center for the Study of Evolution and the Origin of Life (CSEOL), University of California, Los Angeles. Contents List of Contributors xxi 1.4.4 The Archean Atmosphere 23 1.4.5 The Archean Terrigenous Environment 23 Preface xix 1.4.6 The Environmental Influence of Archean Impact Events 23 1.5 Paleobiology of the Archean 25 PARTI J. William Schopf 1.5.1 Introduction 25 1. Geology and Paleobiology of the Archean Earth 5 1.5.2 Recent paleobiological studies of the Early J. William Schopf, Sherwood Chang, Archean Fig Tree and Onverwacht W. Gary Ernst, Heinrich D. Holland, Groups (Swaziland Supergroup), James F. Kasting, Donald R. Lowe South Africa 25 1.5.3 Controversial Microfossils Previously 1.1 Introduction 7 Described from the Early Archean J. William Schopf Warrawoona Group, Western Australia 27 1.5.4 Newly Discovered Microfossils from the 1.2 Formation of the Earth and the Origin of Life 9 Early Archean Apex Basalt (Warrawoona James F. Kasting, Sherwood Chang Group), Western Australia 28 1.2.1 Origin and Development of the Early Atmosphere 9 1.5.5 The Early Archean Microbiota 37 1.2.2 Timing and Environmental Setting of the 1.5.6 Conclusions 39 Origin of Life 10 1.2.3 Chemical Evolution and the Origin of Life 10 1.6 Geology and Paleobiology of the Archean Earth: 1.2.4 Paleoenvironmental Considerations 11 Current Status and Future Research Directions 41 1.2.5 Geologic and Paleobiologic Considerations 11 J. William Schopf 1.6.1 Archean Paleobiology: Problems and 1.3 The Archean Geologic Record 13 Perspectives 41 Donald R. Lowe, W. Gary Ernst 1.3.1 Formation and Evolution of the Pre-Archean Earth 13 1.3.2 Principal Archean Geologic Terranes 14 1.3.3 Archean Crustal Evolution 16 2. Geological Evolution of the Proterozoic Earth 43 1.3.4 Conclusions 18 Donald R. Lowe, Nicolas J. Beukes, John P. Grotzinger, Raymond V. Ingersoll, 1.4 The Environment of the Archean Earth 21 Joseph L. Kirschvink, Cornelis Klein, Heinrich D. Holland, James F. Kasting Ian B. Lambert, and Jan Veizer 1.4.1 Introduction 21 1.4.2 Evidence for Liquid Water and the Early Archean Surface Temperature 21 2.1 Introduction 1.4.3 Archean Ocean Chemistry 21 Donald R. Lowe 45 vii
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